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Voth: Thoughts on (Pre) Free Agency

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
Posted

5 Panthers-Related Thoughts After Pre-Free Agency Weekend

 

 

The first is highly pertinent in this forum.
 

Some fans are already panicking about Panthers’ inactivity, and free agency hasn’t even started yet. Unrestricted free agents who agreed to deals this weekend are top-tier players who will sign Tuesday. Those aren’t Carolina’s guys. Example: Packers receiver Randall Cobb was never a true option. Even if his big deal set the market higher for Jeremy Maclin and Torrey Smith, neither of those wideouts have been realistic targets for the Panthers, either. There are a good number of alternatives in the second and third waves of free agency, and the draft is again loaded with intriguing receivers. The Panthers still aren’t ready to completely open their checkbook in mid-March, especially for just one guy at a position that offers plenty of choices in the next couple weeks and months.

 

Voth also clarifies his "out of the tackle market" comments.

 

One of the reasons the Panthers wanted to lock in Michael Oher before free agency opened is because of this year’s thin offensive tackle class. The options became even more limited Saturday when Derek Newton re-signed with the Texans and Doug Free returned to Dallas. Green Bay’s Bryan Bulaga is still out there, but again, the Panthers won’t be paying the best tackle on the market. So by snagging Oher–who granted, isn’t an elite option–Carolina found a guy who can play left tackle in 2015. And he will unless they can snag one of the top tackles in the draft. If that happens, Oher would likely slip ahead of Mike Remmers at right tackle. But the Panthers won’t be in a hurry to pick up a tackle in the next week or two. They could add another once the initial waves of free agency pass, but currently it’s Oher, Remmers and what may fall to them in the draft.

 

Comments on the GInn rumor...

 

Yup, “might end up n NC” while on an American Airlines flight COULD mean Ginn was on his way to Charlotte. Since he and the Panthers know each other, there’s no need for a meeting before a possible signing, so perhaps he’s agreed to return to Carolina. Or maybe not. Ginn also included a huge graphic of the city of Cleveland in the post. Either way, it’s another reminder of how news–as legit as it may or may not be–travels differently these days.

 

Like Oher, the Panthers are still hoping to get Ginn signed by Tuesday. So SnapChat aside, that deal could be announced Monday – IF it gets done. And just because top-tier options are out, that doesn’t mean the front office is going golfing for a few days. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Panthers sign a second wave guy by the end of the week.

 

And mentions Ed Dickson...
 

There aren’t many tight end options in free agency or the draft, so Ed Dickson has some leverage. The Browns are sniffing around a number of tight ends, so it makes sense they’ve reached out to Dickson. He told me a day after the season-ending loss in Seattle that he wants to return to the Carolinas because “I feel like this is a home for me.” But while players often say stuff like that, money usually talks louder. The Panthers want to keep Dickson, but they may have to pay the somewhat higher price of a diluted tight end market to do it.

 

 

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t96 Grand Master

t96

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I like the window shopping but hate the buyers remorse.

 

I agree, I'd much rather not sign a big name FA and build through the draft than sign one and have him end up like Nnamdi Asomugha did in Philly... Feel like Maxwell will end up a bust for Philly with how much they're paying him. The way great teams are built is through consistently drafting well - not by spending the most every year in FA (except the Patriots, Brady and Belichick's head coaching genius and ability to find cheap free agents to fit in his system is behind their success, since they have not drafted very well at all). I'd love to have a guy like Cobb but not if we'd have had to pay him $12M/year. Free agency always results in guys getting way overpaid.

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stirs Grand Master

stirs

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When you look at positional rankings for FA's, think of it like this:  Last year we were picking the 12-15th best available.  This year, we can move up to 7-12th best in some instances.

 

Quit looking for top shelf talent and you won't be so disappointed.

 

Think Eddie Royal/Cecil Shorts and not Torrey Smith.

DB's like Davon House and maybe Stevie Brown.

 

Also, think next week, not this one

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Lumps Newbie

Lumps

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I don't really care about anyone or anything...except LT. Seems silly, and by silly I mean stupid, to go in with what we have and maybe a rookie. Of corse I said that last year too, could be wrong. I guess anyone willing to put Bell and Chandler as starting tackles for a year is willing to do and try anything. I just hope Cam survives this year.

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Car123 Mentor

Car123

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I agree, I'd much rather not sign a big name FA and build through the draft than sign one and have him end up like Nnamdi Asomugha did in Philly... Feel like Maxwell will end up a bust for Philly with how much they're paying him. The way great teams are built is through consistently drafting well - not by spending the most every year in FA (except the Patriots, Brady and Belichick's head coaching genius and ability to find cheap free agents to fit in his system is behind their success, since they have not drafted very well at all). I'd love to have a guy like Cobb but not if we'd have had to pay him $12M/year. Free agency always results in guys getting way overpaid.

Or we could sign a Stephen Davis.

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stirs Grand Master

stirs

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the only thing close to a mock I did had us taking Jaelen Strong in the first, and Cedric in the second.  Since any tackle in this draft, in my opinion, cannot start on the left side right away, at least Cedric has the opportunity to move into the position by his second season.  I also love Strong.

 

I love Gman the most however

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KSpan Grand Master

KSpan

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Have people really started panicking? I haven't noticed it around here, and usually the Huddle is the first place to go into meltdown about things like that.

There are a few already complaining. Ideally, however, DG will do something in FA a bit more significant than signing Antoine Cason and Thomas DeCoud.

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